The manager said as she “attempted to test the bill to see if it was authentic,” the customer – later identified as Browning – grabbed the the bill from her hand and fled from the restaurant, an officer wrote.

On Sunday, Browning was identified through surveillance video images, and he was questioned by Yorktown police.

He reportedly admitted he had tried to pass the counterfeit bill at McDonald’s, saying he had received it “during a business transaction with a friend.”

On Tuesday, the owner of the Paradise Bar and Grill, 5801 W. Kilgore Ave., reported to Yorktown police that his business in recent days had received counterfeit $20 bills, reportedly from Browning.

Employees recalled the Yorktown man making purchases with extremely “crumpled” $20 bills. The owner said Browning abruptly left the bar on Dec. 28, leaving one of the bills behind after it was determined to be bogus.

Browning – who remained in the Delaware County jail on Thursday under a $35,000 bond – has been convicted of attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud of deceit, driving while suspended (twice), neglect of a dependent, nonsupport of a dependent child, possession of meth (twice), and possession of paraphernalia, and theft.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.